Blocking GPNMB Could Slow Parkinson's Progression
Researchers identify the brain protein GPNMB, largely produced by microglia, as a driver of alpha-synuclein spread in Parkinson's disease. Monoclonal antibodies that block GPNMB halted this spread in neuronal models, and analysis of 1,675 brains linked higher GPNMB levels to more extensive pathology, suggesting a potential disease-modifying therapy—though human trials have not yet begun.